US military operation in Panama: a foolish and dangerous idea

A potential scenario for a US military operation aimed at seizing the Panama Canal would be both unreasonable and extremely complex, writes Bloomberg. 

According to analysts, Panamanians are ready to put up a fight, and the consequences of such a conflict could seriously undermine Washington's international standing, particularly in Latin America.

Bloomberg notes that such actions by the US would strengthen the positions of China and Russia in the region. Any military aggression against a small neighbour would be perceived as evidence of a long-term policy of intervention, given that the United States has invaded countries in Latin America and the Caribbean approximately 70 times in its history.

Besides reputational losses, a strategy of forcibly seizing the Panama Canal would open the door to justifying other aggressive actions on the global stage. 

Russia could use this precedent to legitimise its invasion of Ukraine, while China could use it to bolster its claims on Taiwan and the South China Sea.

The economic and logistical consequences would also be catastrophic. Closing the Panama Canal to shipping would halt global trade flows, leading to chaos in international logistics. In addition, a military conflict could provoke attacks on merchant vessels throughout the Caribbean region.